422-23AS, Adelaide Studio, Acrylic on Belgian linen, 153 x 197cm
Tjukula Tjuta
The circles in this painting represent the many rockholes (tjukula) throughout my country. I am from Pipalyatjara in the APY Lands, and this is where my country is. Pipalyatjara is in the far northwest of South Australia, right near the border with Western Australia. I paint tjukula because finding water in the desert was so important to the Anangu in the old days.
The APY Art Centre Collective is a social enterprise made up of South Australian Aboriginal-owned and governed arts and culture organizations. As a collective, these organizations work to increase income for Aboriginal artists and support the important work of art centres in communities. This artwork was created at the APY Art Centre Collective-operated Adelaide Art Centre, which provides artists living 'off country' with a professional studio environment, the ability to generate independent income, alongside culturally appropriate support to access healthcare and the opportunity to maintain vital cultural and community connections when in Adelaide.
